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Living Faith United Methodist Church
Pastor: The Rev. Dr. Bob (Song Bok) Jon Phone: 508.685.6291
email: [email protected]
Church Office – Bev Shaw 53 Grove Street -- Putnam, Connecticut
06260
Phone: 860.928.9705 email: [email protected]
Website: www.livingfaithumc.net
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A Celebration of Christian Worship January 31, 2021 ~ 4th Sunday
after Epiphany
Svetlana Morse, Music Director Prelude: Praise Him! Praise Him!
Svetlana Morse Announcements, Birthdays and Anniversaries Call to
Worship
L: Praise God, who loves us all. P: Praise God, who is full of
mercy and compassion. L: Praise God, who loves us well. P: Praise
God, who creates honesty and justice. L: Praise God, who invites us
to love. P: Praise God, who loves through us and our actions.
Hymn: #451 Be Thou My Vision
1/ Be thou my vision, O Lord of my heart; naught be all else to
me, save that thou art. Thou my best thought, by day or by night,
waking or sleeping, thy presence my light. 2/ Be thou my wisdom,
and thou my true word; I ever with thee and thou with me, Lord;
thou and thou only, first in my heart, great God of heaven, my
treasure thou art. 3/ Great God of heaven, my victory won, may I
reach heaven’s joys, O bright heaven’s Sun! Heart of my own heart,
whatever befall, still be my vision, O Ruler of all.
Opening Prayer
Loving God, love through us, as we worship your holy name. Love
through us, as we listen for your holy word. Love through us, as we
live your teachings and offer your love to our world. In your
majestic name, we pray. Amen.
Children’s Time Pastor Bob Scripture Reading Psalm 111 and 1
Corinthians 8:1-13 Kathryn King Special Music: Jesus, We Crown You
with Praise Svetlana Morse Sermon: Love Builds Up Rev. Bob Jon Hymn
of Response: #2226 Bind Us Together
Bind us together, Lord, bind us together with cords that cannot
be broken. Bind us together, Lord, bind us together, Lord, bind us
together in love. There is only one God, there is only one King;
There is only one body, that is why we sing.
Welcoming of a New Member – Veejay Strama Reaffirmation of
Faith, Reception into the UMC (Please see the below) Sharing Our
Joys and Concerns
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Prayer of Confession
When we cry out with words that hurt, silence our cries and
speak gently through our words. When we act in ways that hurt, even
when help is intended, transform our hurtful actions with your
grace. When we forget that we are loved and called to love, love us
back into your likeness, that your love might flow freely through
us and bring your love to the world. In your holy presence of love,
we pray. Amen.
Words of Assurance
Full of mercy and compassion, God knows us to the core of our
being, and loves us through all of our days.
Passing the Peace Sharing Our Gifts and Tithes
(Please use the offering box place on the table at the entrance
door. For online giving, please visit
https://livingfaithumc.net/online-giving/ or download tithe.ly on
your smartphone.) Doxology #95 Praise God, from Whom All Blessings
Flow
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; praise him, all
creatures here below; Praise him above, ye heavenly host; praise
Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.
Prayer of Dedication Holy, awesome God, we bring gifts of paper
and coin, symbols of our gratitude and our love. Bless these
symbols, that they may become acts of love and grace. Bless us and
our gifts, that we may transform the world with love and grace. In
gratitude and hope, we pray. Amen.
Hymn: #3038 Mighty to Save
1/ Everyone needs compassion, a love that’s never failing; let
mercy fall on me. Everyone needs forgiveness, the kindness of a
Savior, the Hope of nations. Refrain: Savior, he can move the
mountains; my God is mighty to save, he is mighty to save. Forever,
Author of salvation, he rose and conquered the grave; Jesus
conquered the grave 2/ So take me as you find me, all my fears and
failures; fill my life again I give my life to follow everything I
believe in. Now I surrender, yes, I surrender. Refrain: Interlude:
Shine your light and let the whole world see we’re singing for the
glory of the risen King. Refrain You’re my Savior. You can move the
mountains; God, you are mighty to save. You are mighty to save.
Forever, Author of Salvation, you rose and conquered the grave;
yes, you conquered the grave. You are mighty to save.
Benediction Postlude: How Majestic Is Your Name Svetlana Morse
Call to Worship, Opening Prayer, Prayer of Confession Prayer of
Dedication by Mary Scifres, The Abingdon Worship Annual 2021.
Copyright Ó Mary Scifres. Music Copyright Bind Us Together CCLI
#1228. Mighty to Save CCLI #4591782
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REAFFIRMATION OF FAITH RECEPTION INTO THE UNITED METHODIST
CHURCH
THE BAPTISMAL COVENANT I INTRODUCTION TO THE SERVICE
Brothers and sisters in Christ: Through the Sacrament of Baptism
we are initiated into Christ's holy Church. We are incorporated
into God's mighty acts of salvation and given new birth through
water and the Spirit. All this is God's gift, offered to us without
price. Through the reaffirmation of our faith we renew the covenant
declared at our baptism, acknowledge what God is doing for us, and
affirm our commitment to Christ's holy Church.
RENUNCIATION OF SIN AND PROFESSION OF FAITH On behalf of the
whole Church, I ask you: Do you renounce the spiritual forces of
wickedness, reject the evil powers of this world, and repent of
your sin? I do. Do you accept the freedom and power God gives you
to resist evil, injustice, and oppression in whatever forms they
present themselves? I do. Do you confess Jesus Christ as your
Savior, put your whole trust in his grace, and promise to serve him
as your Lord, in union with the Church which Christ has opened to
people of all ages, nations, and races? I do. According to the
grace given to you, will you remain faithful members of Christ's
holy Church and serve as Christ's representatives in the world? I
will.
Do you, as Christ’s body, the church reaffirm both your
rejection of sin and your commitment to Christ? We do. Will you
nurture one another in the Christian faith and life and include
Veejay now before you in your care? With God’s help we will
proclaim the good news and live according to the example of Christ.
We will surround him with a community of love and forgiveness, that
he may grow in his trust of God, and be found faithful in his
service to others. We will pray for him, that he may be true
disciple who walks in the way that leads to life. Let us join
together in professing the Christian faith as contained in the
Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments. Do you believe in God the
Father? I believe in God, the Father Almighty, creator of heaven
and earth. Do you believe in Jesus Christ? I believe in Jesus
Christ, his only Son, our Lord, [who was conceived by the Holy
Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was
crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to the dead. On the
third day he rose again; he ascended
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into heaven, is seated at the right hand of the Father, and will
come again to judge the living and the dead.] Do you believe in the
Holy Spirit? I believe in the Holy Spirit, [the holy catholic*
church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the
resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.]
THANKSGIVING OVER THE WATER
The Lord be with you. And also with you. Let us pray. Eternal
Father: When nothing existed but chaos, you swept across the dark
waters and brought forth light. In the days of Noah you saved those
on the ark through water. After the flood you set in the clouds a
rainbow. When you saw your people as slaves in Egypt, you led them
to freedom through the sea. Their children you brought through the
Jordan to the land which you promised.
Sing to the Lord, all the earth. Tell of God's mercy each day.
In the fullness of time you sent Jesus, nurtured in the water of a
womb. He was baptized by John and anointed by your Spirit. He
called his disciples to share in the baptism of his death and
resurrection and to make disciples of all nations. Declare Christ’s
works to the nations, his glory among all the people. The pastor
may place hands in or over the water, stir the water, or lift the
water. Pour out your Holy Spirit, and by this gift of water call to
our remembrance the grace declared to us in our baptism. For you
have washed away our sins, and you clothe us with righteousness
throughout our lives, that dying and rising with Christ we may
share in his final victory. All praise to you, Eternal Father,
through your Son Jesus Christ, who with you and the Holy Spirit
lives and reigns for ever. Amen.
REAFFIRMATION OF FAITH
Remember your baptism and be thankful. Amen. The Holy Spirit
work within you, that having been born through water and the
Spirit, you may live as faithful disciples of Jesus Christ.
Amen.
COMMENDATION AND WELCOME
Members of the household of God, I commend Veejay to your love
and care. Do all in your power to increase his faith, confirm his
hope, and perfect him in love. We give thanks for all that God has
already given us. As members of the body of Christ and in this
congregation of The United Methodist Church, we will faithfully
participate in the ministries of the Church by our prayers, our
presence, our gifts, our service and our witness that in everything
God may be glorified through Jesus Christ.
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The God of all grace, who has called us to eternal glory in
Christ, establish and strengthen you by the power of the Holy
Spirit that you may live in grace and peace.
*Birthdays & Anniversaries this week: Wednesday: Laura
Lefevre, Andrew Peterson; Thursday: Adam Lehmann; Friday: Wendi
Hopkins Lorna Wade and Marvin Wilbur, lay servants, will again lead
another study during Lent for 6 weeks. The theme is Forgiveness. We
will use Forgiveness: A Lenten Study by Marjorie J. Thompson. $11.
If you wish to purchase it through the church, please contact Bev
at [email protected]. The book is also available through
Amazon. Time: Sunday 9:00 am (Starting on February 21 and ending on
March 28) via Zoom. Community Café has received a huge number of
bags of split peas. Chris said she could never use that many and is
offering them up for anyone who might like them. There will be
packages available in the King All Purpose room for your taking.
Our Disciple Bible Study on the New Testament, led by Pastor Bob
and Doug Ewing, begins on Monday, February 22 via Zoom. This is a
12 week long study that invites the participants to deepen their
understanding of the biblical context, read the Bible together, and
share our stories, prayers, and fellowship. If you are interested
in taking the course, please send an email to Doug at
[email protected] Our Critical Needs Ministry needs your
help! They have set up 3 families recently coming out of sheltering
and it takes a lot of items to do this. Please…the items need to be
in Good Condition. If you wouldn't use them in your home, please
don't give them to us. Items include: Toaster Toaster Oven Coffee
Maker Pots & Pans Dinnerware-Plates, bowls, mugs, serving
dishes Silverware Cooking Utensils Oven Mitts, Potholders, Dish
Towels Bath Towels & Washcloths Dustpan and Broom Pail
Microwave Mop Bathmats Lamps
